"Don't believe the hype"

Lately I've wanted to find better skin care products and makeup. I just recently got a good job so I think it’s time to treat myself right. The problem is I don't know where to look. Now of days everything seems to have some kind of media ad trying to get your attention to buy it. I bought Bareminerials a few months ago, and what the company says about its product is almost 100% true. It gives great coverage and makes your skin look natural. However, it seems to be drying my skin out. After I talked to some of my friends who own bareminerals most of them agree that it is drying their skin out. I did some research and found out that mineral makeup is not good for the majority of people’s skin. I wish the ad said something like that! I'm beginning to lose trust in ads run on TV. I think if a product is that great word of mouth would be the best marketing it could have. I am not sure how other people are feelings towards ads on tv, but I myself am tired of them. Every time I try new mascara I am let down. It never ends up looking like it does on the commercial. So I wonder how they get away with such exaggerations. I guess the term, “results may vary,” has something to do with it. I think if a product is not doing what it says it can do for more than 75% of people who test it out, then it should not be able to claim that it has worked because it most likely only worked for one person! Ahhh…any suggestions on how to shop for products true to their “advertising”.

Coming to an end..

As our Media Studies class comes to an end I just want to go over some of the things I've learned. Not the technical things you can only learn the book, but the common sense I've gained. After taking this class I've realized I watch movies and television differently, more subjectively now. I begin thinking about the process of the show or movie and how hard it was to actually get broadcasted. I also think of what they are trying to sell to the audience; do they use specific language for a reason, are they doing a lot of product placement...etc. I wonder what their goals are and try to figure out the tactics they use to accomplish them. I have now become less naïve and have opened my eyes to the fact that almost everything in the media has a goal. I have also learned that the media is not always honest. The media has biases and can even enforce stereotypes of people. Has anyone else noticed they have started analyzing the media more than before? I am happy I have taken this class because now I am more aware of the media's purpose, but I think it may have taken away from its authenticity ...to me personally.

Reality TV

I enjoy many reality shows, why they are called “reality” shows I do not know. The irony in these shows is that they are supposed to portray real life captured on film, but instead, everything is exaggerated and scripted. Everything seems so over scripted now of days I do not even want to give any new reality shows a chance. When reality shows first appeared on TV I was fooled into thinking that these people are really who they describe themselves to be. Obviously, money is probably what persuaded them to act in the manner as they do on TV. Tool Academy on MTV for example is perhaps the worse show, yet I'll watch it from time to time just to see the guys cry. This is a great example of writers scripting too much in reality shows. The whole show seems completely mismatched. Reality seems to have some parts scripted and other parts not… and then they change the narration, so I don't know what to believe. Are reality shows partly scripted or completely? Is anyone else a fan of reality TV shows and why? Sitcoms are probably my favorite type of show, but with all these new reality shows like 16 and Pregnant I’m beginning to worry what will happen to other genres.
I found a great article in The Washington Post about reality shows. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A53032-2004Aug9.html